Tenants, ask the landlord to have your dwelling inspected for bed bugs before you sign the lease and ask to see the paperwork . If they refuse , and you really want the apartment, pay for it yourself. It's really not expensive and it will give you peace of mind.

Landlords, if you rent apartments, protect yourself from potential lawsuits and withholding of rents by getting your property bed bug inspected before that new tenant moves in. If a new tenant brings in bed bugs, according to Massachusett's Law MA 105 CMR 410.550, you are responsible unless it is a single family dwelling.What is the best approach to prevent bed bugs?The best approach is to conduct a canine bedbug inspection before a treatment by a pest control company. Then if treatment is necessary, have the pest control company perform the necessary eradication treatment. But since eradication isn't necessarily 100% certain, have an independent bed bug dog inspection conducted within 1-30 days after the treatment depending on the treatment method. This is the most cost-effective, least expensive solution because a bed bug dog inspection could result in no infestation found. But in case a bed bug or viable egg is found, since the infestation is pinpointed, treatment can be dramatically reduced to the targeted areas only. This means less pesticides used, less disruption, less damage to the furnishings (no need to dismantle and re-assemble as with a visual inspection), earlier occupancy, less overall costs and above all peace of mind that the little buggers got truly eliminated.